January 28, 2022 Why silver turns black on the human body is one of the most popular questions asked by owners of jewelry made from this noble metal endowed with healing properties. Since ancient times, its matte sheen has been shrouded in mystical legends, and the change in color over time has been associated with countless superstitions. With the development of science, fairy tales and myths faded into the background, but, as it turned out, not everyone even now knows about the physical properties of silver.
In this article we have prepared answers for you, why does silver turn black? From popular beliefs and frightening signs to purely scientific explanations with tips on how to maintain the original shine of your favorite piece of jewelry for as long as possible, even if you wear it every day.
Causes of silver blackening
There are several versions explaining why silver on the human body turns black, many of which are associated specifically with folk superstitions. Since ancient times, it was believed that the alloy had miraculous powers and protected against negative influences, and silver items were used in religious rituals.
Science explains the reason for the darkening of the alloy by the presence of sulfur coming into contact with silver. Medicine, in turn, believes that the reason for the tarnishing of metal lies in the state of health, as it interacts with bacteria through a certain chemical process.
Tarnished silver earrings
Methods for cleaning silver
If it is assumed that the cause of the blackening of silver is a disease, it must be treated so that the metal does not darken even more. People who believe in damage, the evil eye, etc. I can advise you to go to church more often. But even in these cases, the silver will have to be cleaned. This can be done in many ways:
- Tooth powder or paste. They are applied to a brush or napkin. The silver is then washed with warm water.
- Make a mixture of rubbing alcohol and hydrogen peroxide. Dip the silver into this liquid and keep it in it for 30 minutes. Then the decoration is wiped with a cloth.
- Make a mixture of ammonia, toothpaste, and soda. They are mixed in equal quantities. Cleaning silver items - as in the second option.
- Coca Cola. You need to pour it into a glass and put the decoration in there. Leave to stand overnight. In the morning the decoration will shine like new.
- Boil silver items in water with lemon juice for half an hour.
- Wrap the decoration in foil. Then place it in a container of water and bring to a boil. Add a pinch of baking soda. Boil for 5 minutes.
- Mix ashes (or ash) with soapy water and ammonia. Throw the decoration into the liquid for half an hour.
- Keep the silverware in water after boiling the potatoes.
- Take 9% vinegar, heat it up and drop the decoration into the warm liquid. After 15-20 minutes, it is taken out and wiped with suede or cotton cloth.
When the decoration contains stones, it is not recommended to resort to folk methods; special means will be required. They are sold in all jewelry boutiques. The most you can do at home is to dip the jewelry briefly in soapy water and then wipe it with a soft cloth.
Sometimes a slight blackening of silver is created on purpose to make jewelry more attractive. Many people prefer to listen to superstitions, but most are happy with a scientific explanation. In any case, you can restore the shine of silver quickly and in different ways.
Author: Nutritionist, healthy lifestyle coach Elena Bogdanova
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Impact of dark forces
Since ancient times, silver has been considered a symbol of spiritual beauty and purity, which is why church attributes were made from it. If you believe the legends, then with the help of noble metal you can fight evil spirits. Even today, it is believed that this unique alloy is a natural talisman against negative energy and protects against damage, love spells, the evil eye, and evil and envious people.
Signs and superstitions
Our ancestors believed that silver products have a unique ability to absorb negativity, thereby protecting its owner from the effects of evil spirits. If the silver jewelry has darkened, it means that the owner managed to avoid serious troubles.
Damage or evil eye
According to magicians, an indifferent attitude towards the world around us, malaise, lack of appetite, and irritation indicate that a person is under the influence of a dark force. The influence of black magic can be determined by the silver jewelry:
- Ring. Talks about big failures on the love front. For a girl this means the crown of celibacy, for a man it means a love spell.
- Earrings. Indicates the evil eye.
- Chain. Damage.
- Cross. A strong curse, sometimes even “to death”.
- Dishes. The presence of evil spirits in the house, perhaps some damage was done.
Thus, darkened silver seems to suggest that it took a negative blow and protected its owner from evil spells.
Why does silver turn black on the body?
Silver turns black on the body
They say that silver can maintain a special relationship with its owner. If the owner’s nature is rich in vivid emotions, then the metal will kindle the skills of increased sensitivity in him and at the same time protect him from negative influences from the outside. But a callous psyche, not inclined to sentimentality, will not get along with noble silver, getting continuous troubles from it.
In a way, silver jewelry acts as an indicator, sending open signals to a person about his condition. And they are expressed by the same blackening. When the owner experiences stress, a deep, long-term experience, the products he wears begin to darken. Why is this happening?
Life activity
In the process of life, people sweat. This liquid contains sulfur. The chemical reaction leads to the oxidation of the metal with the formation of a persistent coating. Surely some have encountered similar phenomena at some point of upheaval. Many sweat glands are concentrated in the neck and décolleté. Therefore, chains and pendants suffer first.
Human ailments and silver
During periods of illness, the composition of the blood and pH on the surface of the body changes. Silver actively reacts to all innovations, changing color. The likelihood of blackness is almost inevitable with ailments of the liver, kidneys, heart problems, and endocrine system. Even without being sick, pregnant women or teenagers may notice this behavior in their jewelry. It is explained by hormonal surges that affect the composition of enzymes secreted by the body.
Taking sulfur-based medications or intense physical activity lead to the same result. In both cases, the formation of chemical oxides of silver occurs.
Health problems
According to doctors, silver can darken if the endocrine system is disrupted; this occurs, first of all, due to increased sweating. Sweat contains a large amount of hydrogen sulfide, upon contact with which a chemical reaction occurs in the alloy, and the metal begins to change its color. If sweating is normal, oxidation occurs unnoticed and dark plaque appears gradually.
Increased sweating does not always indicate any disease. Sweating can also be caused by physical activity and active sports. But if the silver quickly acquires a dark shade, it is, of course, better to contact a specialist.
According to science, there is no mysticism in the darkening of metal. Oxygen, interacting with sulfur compounds, enters into a complex reaction. Oxidation occurs as a result of this, so the color of the alloy changes.
Doctors' explanation
Doctors have their own explanation for the blackening of silver. From their point of view, a change in the color of jewelry occurs due to serious health problems. These include:
- improper functioning of the kidneys and liver;
- disrupted hormonal levels;
- disease of the thyroid gland, endocrine system.
Jewelry may turn black during pregnancy or breastfeeding, which is also associated with hormonal changes.
There have been documented cases of silver darkening while taking medications. Some of them lead to changes in the composition of sweat and an increase in the concentration of sulfur in it. To top it all off, the decoration changes color even in the vicinity of sulfur-containing drugs.
Pendants and chains that are in active contact with skin secretions darken the most. Their composition changes during hormonal imbalances, changes in the body, etc. In such cases, the product will darken in a few days.
Silver darkens if the diet frequently contains mayonnaise, onions, salty foods, eggs, and salad sauces.
The color of silver changes when the acid-base balance changes. A sharp lightening may indicate problems in the liver or kidneys, as nitrogen begins to be actively released. It gives silver shine.
We can conclude that if silver jewelry darkens, it is better to undergo a full medical examination. This will help identify serious diseases at an early stage.
Doctors also talk about blackening of products due to severe anxiety and stress, increased physical activity, and increased sweating. Before active sports, it is better to remove all jewelry. You should not take them to the sauna or bathhouse.
Silver really helps maintain health. This white metal has antibacterial and wound-healing effects, which can be easily tested using a silver ion patch.
Silver is administered intravenously for sore joints and inflammation of the respiratory system. Medicines for the treatment of certain diseases of the digestive system also contain silver.
What enhances the oxidation of silver?
Cosmetics such as shampoos, soaps, creams, when they come into contact with jewelry, accelerate the oxidation process of silver. Usually this happens slowly, and the alloy changes its color gradually, but there are factors that enhance this effect.
Darkened chain with a cross
Stress, sport and bath
Physical activity, stress, nervous strain, and going to the bathhouse increase the work of the sebaceous glands, which contributes to increased sweating. With an intensified process, the content of sulfide concentrate also increases, which means that the oxidation process occurs much faster, the result is that the jewelry loses its original appearance and darkens.
Low purity and impurities
Premature discoloration of silver items can occur due to the high content of impurities that are added to the alloy. Natural silver itself is too soft to make the product more durable; other noble metals are added to it. If more of a component is added than required, the alloy will turn out to be of poor quality, which means it will quickly darken.
For jewelry, 925 sterling silver with a small addition of copper is usually used. It is less prone to darkening, but copper, when in contact with sweat, interacts with sulfur salts, forming a blackish coating on the surface of the alloy.
Increased air humidity
Too much humidity can have a big impact on the appearance of your silver piece. With increased humidity, the process of sweat evaporation slows down and the concentration of sulfur salts increases. By entering into a complex reaction with them, silver sulfide oxidizes, and the jewelry quickly begins to darken.
Interestingly, sweat can also cause lightening of products, since it contains nitric acid. When it interacts with silver sulfide, it destroys it, that is, it changes the color of the alloy from dark to light.
Can 925 sterling silver be wetted?
Before answering the question of whether it is possible to wet 925 silver, I want to tell you what it actually is.
This metal has the beautiful name “sterling silver”. It is obtained by alloying pure silver with copper or other metals. Silver in this alloy is 92.5% - hence the sample number 925. The melting point is 1640 degrees Fahrenheit. Silver as a noble metal has been known for a very long time, but only in the 18th century were its numerous deposits discovered and mining began all over the world.
The metal was very widely used not only in jewelry, but also as a bargaining chip. However, with the passage of time and depletion of reserves, production in large volumes was curtailed.
You should know that pure silver is a very soft metal that can be cut with an ordinary knife. In addition, it oxidizes very easily and loses its silver color. Scientists have conducted numerous experiments on alloying various additives with it in order to give silver hardness and resistance to oxidation. 925 silver turned out to be optimal both in terms of quality and cost. This alloy has a dazzling white color and is highly durable.
It is believed that it got its name “sterling silver” from coins with the same name. English pounds sterling were made from 925 silver.
There is another version of the origin of the name. It is known that back in the 12th century in Germany there were coins with a silver content of 92.5% and they were called “easterlingsilver”.
It is now impossible to prove where the name “sterling silver” came from. But is it really that important? The main thing is that this coin silver has proven itself well and has its value even today
The demand for sterling silver products has been and remains high. The jewelry has an excellent presentation and is affordable. Sterling silver is resistant to oxidation, waterproof and pleasant to wear.
- In fact, there is a well-known opinion that any jewelry, no matter what it is made of, should not be exposed to water, household chemicals, or cosmetics. Therefore, you should not abuse them by bathing them in chlorinated waters of pools.
And buy jewelry in specialized stores. Often, products purchased in China and even having a 925 standard, in fact turn out to be complete fakes: they very quickly lose their presentation, turn red, darken or even turn black, which indicates that they contain a large percentage of copper and other metals.
- Real sterling silver practically does not darken when worn. And its difference is that even with slight darkening it can be easily cleaned, after which it takes on its original appearance.
Source
How to avoid tarnishing of silver?
To avoid darkening of silver jewelry, you must follow simple recommendations:
- do not wear them in a bathhouse or sauna;
- do not wear products when sick;
- remove silver when cleaning at home;
- store jewelry separately from others.
It is not recommended to wear a silver product immediately after cleaning; it is necessary to let it sit for several days so that the surface of the alloy is covered with a natural protective film.
Silver cleaning
Storage and care rules
To prevent silver jewelry from darkening for a long time, adhere to the following recommendations for storing it:
- For storage, use velvet bags, cases or boxes - it is better to place them separately so that they do not scratch each other. As a last resort, you can use a plastic bag.
- Do not use paper or cardboard packaging, or bags made of viscose silk to store silver accessories. They contain sulfur, which can accelerate the process of blackening of the metal.
- The optimal storage location is a dry and cool place that is located away from light and heat sources.
In addition, it is necessary to properly care for your jewelry, in particular, regularly clean and polish it. Also remember to take them off before swimming, cleaning the house or playing sports. To prevent silver from darkening for a long time, jewelers recommend coating accessories with rhodium – it will help protect the metal and help it remain shiny for a long time.
How and with what to clean?
You can easily clean silver yourself, using special products that are sold at a household chemical store. But if the jewelry contains expensive stones, then it is better to take it to a jewelry workshop so as not to accidentally spoil it.
Cleaning products
Before cleaning, the product must be rinsed under a thin stream of warm water, dried and polished using a woolen cloth or a special napkin. For more severe contamination, soak the jewelry in warm water with some laundry soap for several hours, then rinse, dry and carefully polish.
Folk recipes
An effective means for cleaning silver jewelry is tooth powder. Apply a small amount of it to a slightly damp soft cloth and clean the products with very careful movements so as not to scratch them.
Ammonia is a good way to remove blackness from silver. Add a little laundry soap and a tablespoon of ammonia to a half-liter container of warm water. The product is left for 20 minutes, rinsed, then wiped dry with a napkin.
Unfortunately, nature works in such a way that it is impossible to rid silver of dark deposits forever. It is very important to properly care for your silver jewelry after cleaning to prevent tarnishing for as long as possible.
If you believe that the darkening of silver is associated with damage or the evil eye, it is advisable to go to church. And if you have health problems, it is recommended to consult a doctor. Tarnished silver items simply need to be cleaned, and proper care will help maintain their proper appearance for a long time.
Popular beliefs
Superstitious people, seeing a blackened piece of jewelry on a person or the skin underneath it, recommend immediately turning to healers. According to popular belief, silver changes color on a cursed person or when there is damage. It is the first to suffer from “black” energy, letting it through and becoming darker. The degree of darkening determines the strength or level of negative energy from the induced damage.
A common belief is that a darkened ring on the hand of an unmarried girl promises a celibate life, a chain speaks of the evil eye, and a cross indicates a strong curse. After eliminating all the negative things, the silver item brightens, that is, all the “dark” energy goes away.
In eastern countries there is a different opinion about tarnished silver items. There I believe that silver is a reliable protector from evil spirits and troubles. If a person’s jewelry has darkened, then he has successfully avoided dangerous troubles. The fact of protection is reflected in the color of the product. It was also believed that silver was a conductor to the world of spirits. On a long journey they always took something silver and looked after it carefully. If a dark coating formed, the route was changed or the trip was abandoned. If the silver turned completely black, then the trouble was over; when it was slightly dark, the danger had not yet passed.
Beliefs also speak of the protective functions of silver from evil spirits, ghosts and werewolves. In ancient times, silver was used to make amulets: an anchor for travelers, crosses on the body, a moon over the bed against nightmares, a bell to cleanse rooms from evil forces, etc.
In ancient Rus' it was believed that silver darkens after an evil and bad deed with serious consequences in the future. This especially applied to crosses and chains. The blackness of the act is reflected in the silver, which is ashamed to shine brightly and attract others to this person. If a person’s chain suddenly darkened for no apparent reason, then he was tested for possession. It was believed that only a possessed person could commit a bad act and hide it in confession. Such a person was not scolded, but helped. To test, we used holy and ordinary water. Holy water was poured into six glasses, and plain water into the seventh. It was believed that if a person constantly chooses a glass of plain water, then the demon takes his hand away, to which holy water is like a burn for people. This method was used quite seriously by the police when investigating cases. According to records and eyewitness accounts, the possessed constantly chose a glass of plain water, while an ordinary person did this alternately.
It is interesting that in Western Europe it was not recommended to remove darkened items, although they lost their protective power. It was believed that a repeated attack could be successful if the decoration that took the blow was removed. They sacrificed aesthetics, but did not part with their trusty silver objects.
Scientists tend to attribute mystical theories about the darkening of jewelry to the fruits of fantasy.
